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Detection of Mycobacterium leprae nasal carriers in populations for which leprosy is endemic

P R Klatser1, S van Beers, B Madjid

  • 1Department of Biomedical Research, Royal Tropical Institute, Amsterdam, The Netherlands.

Journal of Clinical Microbiology
|November 1, 1993
PubMed

Insights

Mycobacterium leprae nasal carriage was detected in 7.8% of individuals in an endemic area using PCR. This finding supports the theory of widespread M. leprae occurrence in leprosy-endemic populations.

Area of Science:

  • Microbiology
  • Infectious Diseases
  • Epidemiology

Background:

  • Leprosy, a chronic infectious disease, is caused by Mycobacterium leprae.
  • Understanding the reservoirs and transmission routes of M. leprae is crucial for disease control.
  • Nasal carriage is a potential, yet understudied, aspect of M. leprae epidemiology.

Purpose of the Study:

  • To investigate the prevalence and distribution of Mycobacterium leprae nasal carriage.
  • To assess the role of nasal carriage in leprosy transmission within an endemic community.

Main Methods:

  • A population-based survey was conducted in a leprosy-endemic area.
  • Polymerase chain reaction (PCR) was used to detect a specific M. leprae gene (pra) in nasal swab specimens.
  • 1,228 individuals were tested for M. leprae nasal carriage.

Main Results:

  • A 7.8% prevalence of M. leprae nasal carriage was observed.
  • PCR positivity was randomly distributed across the population, with no significant association with age or sex.
  • While most households showed expected distribution, two households had three PCR-positive individuals each.

Conclusions:

  • The presence of M. leprae nasal carriage in a significant portion of the population supports its disseminated occurrence in endemic areas.
  • Nasal carriage may represent a reservoir for M. leprae, contributing to disease transmission.
  • Further research is needed to determine if nasal carriage implies infection or bacillary excretion.

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